Swiatek: Roland-Garros is my favourite tournament

What does Roland-Garros mean to you?

It’s just my favourite tournament, my favourite surface. It was here, as a young player, that I believed for the first time I could be great at what I do.

Which of your three titles at Roland-Garros is the most memorable for you?

I think the last one, when I won against Karolina Muchova. It was a very challenging match and a very demanding two weeks, as everyone was expecting me to win for a second year in a row. With such high expectations, it’s always the most difficult. Also, the beginning of the tournament was challenging for me in terms of my health, so definitely 2023.

You said you didn’t instantly fall in love with tennis, what helped you persevere?

Discovering I’m good at it. I fell in love with the discipline, with getting better every day, with improving my game, with the process. As I get older, I’m creating more memories, healthy passion and positive vibes.

What’s the most complicated thing to manage in your life as an elite athlete?

My job is a huge privilege, I have an amazing life but yes, there are some difficulties at the same time. Being away from home for such a long time, missing my family, my home. Managing mental and physical fatigue, which increases with every week on tour as the schedule is really demanding for us, the players. But you know…it’s a good life and I appreciate it very much. Living in the public eye is also something I find challenging.

What do you feel you need to work on throughout your sporting career?

Improving as a tennis player, that’s for sure, improving as an athlete, but as a person as well. Just developing myself every day. Learning how to manage the business side of my career, media and partners’ obligations in a way that won’t negatively influence my main job, which is what happens on court. I need to narrow my focus so I’m able to be ‘here and now’ regardless of what’s happening around me.

You were named in Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2023, how do you feel about that?

That was something I didn’t expect. I was honoured and happy that my actions – speaking openly about important issues like the war in Ukraine or mental health – were acknowledged by people and by such prestigious magazine. I remember how warm and kind Mikaela Shiffrin’s words about me were. (Editor’s note: In October 2023, Mikaela Shiffrin, alpine skiing champion, spoke about her admiration for Iga, praising her ‘unbeatable mentality’ and expected she would regain her world No.1 ranking) That meant a lot as well.

You don’t hesitate to make your voice heard in the tennis world, are there any subjects you’d like to talk about?

For now, my main focus is on improving the schedule as it is very demanding for the players…I would also like to help improve the popularity of women’s tennis around the world as well. It would be amazing to tell all these great stories of amazing women and market women’s tennis more. There is so much about it we don’t go into enough.

You still have a long career ahead of you, but how do you see your life after tennis?

I’m not thinking about it now, to be honest. I’m focusing on my next tournament, my next match. Maybe on my off-season vacations but that’s it.

How do you balance your professional and private life?

I’m learning and I’m improving! I try to do something good for myself every day, it’s a great piece of advice I got from my psychologist Daria Abramowicz. This one little thing can be powerful. And of course I read a lot, I listen to good music, I watch TV series. All the things people do to chill.

We know you champion good mental health. Why?

Because I feel it’s essential to empower people to be vulnerable sometimes, to embrace that it’s ok not to be ok, to ask for help. For some reason, it is still something people are afraid or ashamed of. I want to show them that it is normal to struggle.

Apart from reading, how do you relax?

I like spending my time close to water, a lake, the sea, the beach. Water calms my mind.

What do you like about playing the ukulele?

I wasn’t the best at it (laughs). I don’t have a talent for instruments but I would love to learn in the future.

What kind of music do you listen to? Do you listen to a certain style in certain circumstances?

Before matches I have a playlist, and listen to some rock: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Lenny Kravitz, Guns N’ Roses...But off the court, I listen to pop and blues. I like to mix genres and artists.

What’s your favourite TV series or film that has made an impression on you?

My favourites include Friends, Parks and Recreation and Ted Lasso.

What is there that the public doesn’t know about Iga?

Probably a lot of things… I like to keep my life private so there still will be many things you won’t know about me.